Cartridge

Abstract

A cartridge for mounting in an image forming apparatus includes a developer storage chamber, a discharge port fluidly connected to the developer storage chamber, a toner storage chamber, a fluid communication path extending in a first direction and fluidly connecting the toner storage chamber to the developer storage chamber, an auger disposed in the fluid communication path, rotatable inside the fluid communication path about a rotation axis extending in the first direction, and configured to transport the toner from the toner storage chamber along the fluid communication path toward the developer storage chamber when rotated about the rotation axis, and a sealing member disposed on the auger and configured to seal a gap between the auger and an inner surface of the fluid communication path when the sealing member is inside the fluid communication path and move along the first direction when the auger is rotated about the rotation axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cartridge for mounting in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a developer storage chamber in which a developer can be stored; 
 a discharge port fluidly connected to the developer storage chamber such that the developer from the developer storage chamber can be discharged from the discharge port; 
 a toner storage chamber in which a toner can be stored; 
 a fluid communication path extending from the toner storage chamber to the developer storage chamber in a first direction, the fluid communication path fluidly connecting the toner storage chamber to the developer storage chamber; 
 an auger disposed in the fluid communication path, the auger being rotatable inside the fluid communication path about a rotation axis extending in the first direction and configured to transport the toner from the toner storage chamber along the fluid communication path toward the developer storage chamber when rotated about the rotation axis; and 
 a sealing member disposed on the auger and configured to seal a gap between the auger and an inner surface of the fluid communication path when the sealing member is inside the fluid communication path and move along the first direction when the auger is rotated about the rotation axis. 
 
     
     
       2. The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the sealing member is formed in a shape conforming to the outer peripheral surface of the auger. 
     
     
       3. The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section of an outer shape of the sealing member in the first direction is formed in a non-circular shape. 
     
     
       4. The cartridge according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a stopper configured to block movement of the sealing member into the toner storage chamber from the fluid communication path. 
 
     
     
       5. The cartridge according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rotary vane in an outer periphery of the auger, the rotary vane spirally extending around the rotation axis between a first point inside the developer storage chamber and a second point inside the toner storage chamber, wherein 
 the sealing member surrounds the rotary vane, and 
 the sealing member moves along the first direction in response to a rotation of the auger. 
 
     
     
       6. The cartridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
       7. The cartridge according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a detection protrusion configured to provide an identification of the cartridge. 
 
     
     
       8. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a developer storage chamber in which a developer can be stored; 
 a discharge port fluidly connected to the developer storage chamber such that the developer from the developer storage chamber can be discharged from the discharge port; 
 a toner storage chamber in which a toner can be stored; 
 a fluid communication path extending from the toner storage chamber to the developer storage chamber in a first direction, the fluid communication path fluidly connecting the toner storage chamber to the developer storage chamber; 
 an auger disposed in the fluid communication path, the auger being rotatable inside the fluid communication path about a rotation axis extending in the first direction and configured to transport the toner from the toner storage chamber along the fluid communication path toward the developer storage chamber when rotated about the rotation axis; 
 a sealing member disposed on the auger and configured to seal a gap between the auger and an inner surface of the fluid communication path when the sealing member is inside the fluid communication path and move along the first direction when the auger is rotated about the rotation axis; 
 a drive source that rotates the auger; and 
 a control unit configured to cause the drive source to rotate the auger to move the sealing member from a toner storage chamber side to a developer storage chamber side inside the fluid communication path for discharging the toner from the discharge port. 
 
     
     
       9. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein when the developer is discharged from the discharge port, the control unit causes the drive source to stop the rotation of the auger after a predetermined time elapses after the drive source starts the rotation of the auger. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a sensor capable of detecting a position of the sealing member along the first direction, 
 wherein when the developer is discharged from the discharge port, the control unit causes and the drive source to stop the rotation of the auger before the sealing member enters the developer storage chamber from the fluid communication path, based on the position of the sealing member detected by the sensor. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein an inner surface of the sealing member is formed in a shape conforming to the outer peripheral surface of the auger. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein a cross-section of an outer shape of the sealing member in the first direction is formed in a non-circular shape. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a stopper configured to block movement of the sealing member into the toner storage chamber from the fluid communication path. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a rotary vane in an outer periphery of the auger, the rotary vane spirally extending around the rotation axis between a first point inside the developer storage chamber and a second point inside the toner storage chamber, wherein 
 the sealing member surrounds the rotary vane, and 
 the sealing member moves along the first direction in response to a rotation of the auger. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the sealing member comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a detection protrusion configured to provide an identification of the cartridge. 
 
     
     
       17. A developer cartridge for mounting in an image forming apparatus, comprising:
 a case extending in an longitudinal direction from a first end of the case to a second end of the case; 
 a developer storage chamber on the first end of the case for accommodating a developer; 
 a toner storage chamber on a second end of the case for accommodating a toner; 
 a fluid communication path in the case and extending in the longitudinal direction between the developer storage chamber and the toner storage chamber being fluidly connected via the fluid communication path, the fluid communication path; 
 a discharge port on a bottom side of the case and fluidly connected to the developer storage chamber; 
 a first cover on a top side of the case and covering the developer storage chamber; 
 a second cover on the top side of the case and covering the toner storage chamber; 
 a first auger inside the fluid communication path and mounted for rotation about a first rotation axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction, the first auger configured to transport the toner from the toner storage chamber along the fluid communication path toward the developer storage chamber when rotated about the first rotation axis; 
 a first auger drive gear outside the case, the first auger drive gear being engaged with the first auger at an end portion of the first auger; 
 a second auger inside the toner storage chamber and mounted for rotation about a second rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal direction, the second auger configured to transport the toner inside the toner storage chamber toward the fluid communication path when rotated about the second rotation axis; 
 a second auger drive gear outside the case, the second auger drive gear being engaged with an end portion of the second auger; 
 a sealing member disposed on the first auger and configured to seal a gap between the first auger and an inner surface of the fluid communication path when the sealing member is in the fluid communication path and to move along the longitudinal direction of the fluid communication path when the first auger is rotated about the first rotation axis; 
 a stopper configured to block movement of the sealing member into the toner storage chamber from the fluid communication path; and 
 a detection protrusion on an outside of the case and configured to provide an identification of the cartridge. 
 
     
     
       18. The developer cartridge according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a partition wall inside the toner storage chamber, the partition wall extending from a rear wall surface of the toner storage chamber and being spaced from a front wall surface of the toner storage chamber. 
 
     
     
       19. The developer cartridge according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a first rotary vane in an outer periphery of the first auger, the rotary vane spirally extending around the first rotation axis between a first point inside the developer storage chamber and a second point inside the toner storage chamber, wherein 
 the sealing member surrounds the rotary vane, and 
 the sealing member moves along the first direction in response to a rotation of the first auger. 
 
     
     
       20. The developer cartridge according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a second rotary vane in an outer periphery of the second auger, the rotary vane spirally extending around the second rotation axis inside the toner storage chamber.